Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 6 *

Summary:  Far from home, a special person helps ease the ache.

Rating:  G  1,840 words

Note:  This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.

Homesick

December 1849

Abel Stoddard strode alongside his grandson, occasionally glancing at items in shop windows.  The former sailor had all the material possessions he required and the best Christmas present of all—the company of his only grandchild.  He caught a glimpse of Adam’s profile in a shop window and the slumped shoulders told Abel all he needed to know about the young man’s thoughts.  Every man wanted to be safe in harbor for the holidays but Abel knew this young man wanted to be docked in port, basking in the warmth and companionship of his father and brothers.

Despite pointing out the occasional item in a storefront, Abel noted his grandson’s disinterest in the few mumbled words or shakes of the head.  The older man knew there had to be something that would catch the younger man’s eye, even if it was a woolen scarf or a penny’s-worth of candy.

The older man stopped for a moment to admire the trim lines of a ship ensconced within a glass bottle.  He closed his eyes for a moment and remembered the creak of timbers and wind-caught sails as his ship sliced a path through the waves.

When he opened his eyes, Adam was no longer beside him.  Abel glanced to and fro, worried Elizabeth’s son had been shanghaied.  The tightness in the old man’s chest eased when he caught a glimpse of Adam a couple blocks down the street from where they’d come.  He tugged at the collar of his coat before setting off after his grandson.

Abel caught the scent of perfume, a blend of spice and carnations.  He understood why his grandson had set off in pursuit of the source yet he began preparation of the lecture he’d give the lad once he’d caught up to the young man.  His eyebrows drew together when he espied Adam entering a chandlers’ shop as the young man had not shown an interest in the sea.

The perfume’s scent grew stronger as Abel reached the shop’s doorway.  He stepped within and nearly collided with a clerk carrying a box the man could barely see over.  After the clerk passed, Abel noted his grandson was trying to appear interested in a Chinese porcelain blue-painted vase.

“Abel!”

The old sailor turned at the feminine voice.

“How wonderful to see you!” the woman said.

The perfume mystery was at last solved.  Abel clasped the young woman’s hands in his and gently laid a kiss upon her cheek.

“Eugenie, why didn’t you send word you and Simon are in port?”

“We arrived two days ago.  Simon is supervising the unloading.”

“I believe my grandson is intrigued by your perfume.”  Abel snapped his fingers to get Adam’s attention and gestured for him to come over.  He draped a protective arm across his grandson’s shoulders and pulled him a mite closer.  “Eugenie, this is my grandson, Adam Cartwright.  Adam, this Eugenie Bowen.”

Adam nodded and seemed to freeze when Eugenie extended her hand.

“She won’t bite,” Abel said.

Eugenie laughed far too robustly for polite company, which Abel found most endearing.

Abel loosened his grip on his blushing grandson and Adam gently clasped Eugenie’s hand in greeting.

“Cartwright?” she asked.  “You’re Benjamin’s son?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Adam said.  “Do you know him?”

“I’ve made his acquaintance.  In New Orleans.”

Abel cleared his throat and pulled his pipe from his pocket.  “I might as well take a look around while we’re here.”  He pretended interest in various items as he battled the temptation to eavesdrop.  Eugenie was very married and her years of traveling on ship with Simon had made her an expert hand at warding off unwanted attentions from young men.  She had a way of using words to cut a man to the bone but doing so in such a manner that left the recipient unsure if he’d been insulted or complimented.  Abel knew his grandson to be a mannerly lad and hoped having another person to talk to who knew Ben would hopefully ease the young man’s homesickness.

At the swish of skirts, Abel set down a woolen cap he’d plucked from a box and pulled his pipe from his mouth.  He tapped the pipe bowl against the palm of his hand to loosen the dottle and deposited it on the floor.

“Mrs. Bowen says she and Mr. Bowen would like to stop by this evening, if that’s all right with you, Grandfather.”

“Aye,” he said, with a raised eyebrow for Eugenie.  He stuffed the pipe into his coat pocket.

“Simon would enjoy trading tales with a fellow sea dog and I would like to hear more of Nevada.”

“Shall we say eight bells?” Abel asked.

Eugenie kissed the older man’s cheek and said, “Until then.”

Both men watched Eugenie head for the back of the store, clerks tugging their forelocks as she passed.  Abel and Adam sighed in unison before exiting.

“How did you come to know the Bowens?” asked Adam.

“Simon sailed on the Wanderer for a few voyages.  He was an ambitious young man so he left my employ and apprenticed himself to another captain.   When the lad wanted something, he found a way to get it.  He was soon in charge of a small fleet!  Simon arrived in port with Eugenie as his wife ten years ago.  I imagine he followed her like a puppy the first time he saw her, much as you did this afternoon, and threatened to sling her over his shoulder like one of the Sabine women if she wouldn’t wed him.”

Adam broke into a coughing fit and Abel slapped the young man’s back several times.

“I exaggerate, lad.  Eugenie is a fine lass, and you saw today that she wears authority like cloak.  I’ve no doubt Simon had to woo her with fine words and flowers.”

“Grandfather?”

“Aye, lad?”

“I wasn’t following her like a puppy.”

The older man steered his grandson to a bench along the waterfront.

Adam sat and leaned forward, elbows on his knees, chin resting atop his clasped hands.  Abel had to stop himself from adopting the same posture.

“It was the perfume,” Adam said.  “For a moment I thought Marie was still alive.  That she and Pa had come to visit.”  The young man sat back then slouched.  “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”

For a moment, Abel watched the seagulls gliding over the restless water, keening for sailors who’d succumbed to the depths.  Out of habit he silently uttered a prayer for their souls.

“You only worried me, lad.”  He puffed his cheeks and blew a breath through pursed lips. “You’d disappeared and I’d feared something terrible may have happened.  How could I face your father if it had?  He’d think he’d left you in the care of a doddering old fool not fit for land or sea.”

Adam chuckled.

“Then I saw you and pursued.  When I caught the scent of perfume, I’ll allow that I was worried.  It was a mighty relief to find you in a safe harbor.”

“Mrs. Bowen is a nice lady,” Adam said.

“Aye.”

“She reminds me some of Marie only Mrs. Bowen doesn’t use as much French.”

Abel snorted and fixed his grandson with a look.  “Let her temper get the best of her and Eugenie forgets English.”

Adam’s shoulders shook as he tried to hold back his laughter.  Abel felt relief that the visit with Eugenie appeared to have raised the young man’s spirits.

Abel slapped Adam’s back and said, “We’d best return home, lad.  We don’t want the Bowens to catch us unprepared.”

*

A knock on the door coincided with the grandfather clock ringing the first of eight bells.  Abel straightened his collar then checked over his grandson as the housekeeper answered the door.  He and Adam stood flanking a tray bearing brandy and glasses atop the table, awaiting their guests.  Both men deeply inhaled the familiar scent of perfume.

“You old salt,” said Simon as he and Abel embraced with enthusiastic backslapping.

Adam held out his hand to welcome Eugenie.  She took his hand and gently placed a kiss against his cheek.

Eugenie winked at Adam.  “Simon, tear yourself away from that old man and meet Benjamin’s son.”

Simon gave Abel one last hearty slap against the shoulder before turning his attention to the young man.  He looked Adam up and down, noting the young man’s bearing held the promise of authority.  Extending his hand, he said, “I see Ben and the captain in you.  It’s a pleasure to meet an old friend’s son.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Adam.

“Not so formal, young man.  Please, call me Simon.”

“Yes, sir, Simon.”

Simon laughed.

“Why don’t you and Abel have a drink while Adam I retire to the parlor,” said Eugenie.  “Adam has promised to tell me of Nevada.”

Simon and Abel raised their glasses in salute.  Eugenie nodded to them both then took Adam’s arm, steering him out of the room.

When they reached the parlor, Eugenie withdrew her arm and reached into her reticule, pulling out a velvet pouch and holding it forth.  “I want you to have this.”

Adam shook his head.  “I don’t have a gift for you.”

“I’m not asking for anything in return.”

He took it and opened the pouch’s neck.  His brows drew together as he reached his fingertips in and felt glass.

“Go on,” said Eugenie in encouragement.

Adam’s face pinked at the sight of the perfume bottle.  Marie had ordered her perfume from the same shop in New Orleans.

“Please don’t be embarrassed,” Eugenie said.  She laid her hand on his arm.  “It may not have more than a few drops left in it but it’s the scent that’s important.  I know the pain of being far from home.  May this help you recall happy memories of your family, especially of Marie.”

Adam blinked back tears as he met her eyes.  “I don’t know what to say except thank you.”

Eugenie’s smile alone seemed to brightly light the room.  “That is enough.”

At the sound of approaching footsteps Eugenie took the bottle from him and put it back in the pouch.  As she put the pouch in his coat pocket she whispered, “Merry Christmas, mon ami.”

“Has my grandson filled your ears with tales of trees that touch the sky and bears as large as houses?” asked Abel.

Eugenie laughed and crossed the room to put her arm around her husband’s waist.  “He doesn’t exaggerate as you old sailors do.”

Simon growled in mock fury and Abel chuckled at her impertinence.

The housekeeper brought in the tray bearing the decanter and two more glasses.  Abel poured and served Eugenie and his grandson before refilling his and Simon’s glasses.

“To what shall we toast?” asked Simon.

Adam caught Eugenie’s eye and she winked.  He lifted his glass and said, “To memories.”

The End

I chose perfume with mischief in mind but my muse had a different idea.

Character: Adam

Gift: Perfume

Inspired by:  Elizabeth, My Love
Director:  Lewis Allen
Written by:  Anthony Lawrence, David Dortort (creator)

Link to Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar – Day 7 – A Bonbon Too Far by Sierra Girl